Steamers captain Culum Retallick insists there's a strong focus on taking advantage of the opportunities the team creates when they meet the Stags tomorrow night.

The Steamers are coming off a less than impressive 34-13 defeat against Tasman last week, and are set to face a fired-up Southland side who have yet to taste defeat so far in this season's ITM Cup.

Culum Retallick in action against Waikato. Photo: File.

'Training hasn't been too bad,” says Culum. 'Obviously it's pretty short and we've only had one full day of training. The boys have recovered pretty well and we're looking for a good performance tomorrow night.”

'We've mainly been focusing on getting some of our details right with our game plan, creating opportunities, making sure we're sticking to [our plan] and, when we create opportunities, we execute it.”

But Culum says he's expecting the Stags to be at full roar come kick-off time at Bay Park Stadium.

'Southland always pride themselves on a pack out front and they had a win at the weekend,” he adds, 'so they'll be confident and looking to get maximum points out of it.”

The 85-game veteran, who has scored seven tries in the blue and gold hoops, says the next two matches are crucial.

'The next two games are our season really,” he says. 'If we can beat Southland and, not looking too far ahead, Waikato, we will be looking alright at that stage.”

The two sides met 34 times between 1939-2014, with Bay of Plenty wining 19 to Southland's 14, and one draw. The last time they met Southland took the honours with a 34-23 win in Invercargill.

Steamers coach Clayton McMillan says the side is looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd.

'Southland are a quality side known for their experienced forwards,” says Clayton, 'but they have showcased in their first few games an ability and willingness to attack out wide, so we will need to be at our best to get a positive outcome.”

Clayton has named a strong side to take on the Stags with All Blacks open-side flanker Sam Cane returning to the fold along with Nathan Harris and Carl Axtens, who will share the co-captain's role with Retallick. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

Steamers Team:

1. Solomona Sakalia

2. Nathan Harris

3. Pingi Tala'apitaga

4. Keepa Mewett

5. Culum Retallick ©

6. Johan Bardoul

7. Sam Cane

8. Carl Axtens ©

9. Jono Kitto

10. Nick Evemy

11. Chase Tiatia

12. Caleb Hall

13. Lalakai Foketi

14. Tino Nemani

15. Te Rangi Fraser

Reserves:

16. Sabastian Siataga

17. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi

18. Jeff Thwaites

19. Tim Bond

20. Joe Tupe

21. Te Aihe Toma

22. Dan Hollinshead

23. Whaimotu Craft-Chemis